Organic Nonpareil Silver Needle White Tea (Bai Hao Yin Zhen)

Tea of the afternoon……

And my last sample to review from Teavivre from my Steepster tasting activity. I do have a few samples of their new teas in my most recent order, so there will be a few more reviews to come. Again, I am very appreciative of this chance, and it has really changed my views on green tea and pu’erh. I was pretty much only a fan of black teas and the occasional oolong prior to this.

I had to try this one a few times before I could really put it into words. The lighter teas are subtle, and they require just a little more time to test. I agree with others that the first scent of the dry leaves is of fresh hay. The leaves are long, very light sage green and covered with a downy fuzz. The brew is a pale yellow. The flavor gives light hints of hay, melon, and cucumber (I agree on this one KS!). I brewed it a second time, and it almost seemed a little bit more intense than the first steep. I did steep a little longer, and I guess the leaves were primed and ready to give up their true flavors. While I am not usually a drinker of white tea, I did like this one enough to order some! Even though it is on the pricey side, the resteepability makes this one within a range I am comfortable spending on a quality tea.

Mug method, 175 water, 2 perfect tsp tea (the entire sample bag), 2 minutes first steep, 3 minutes second steep. No additions.

So I took time off to work at home and the internet has been down all morning. oh well, that just means I will have to do it later in the day. It’s still on and off so just posting a quick tea note.

The silver needles have light hairs all over them and are of silver and light green colours. The needles are long and thin with minimal to no breakage in the leaves. Quality overall is very nice. They have a light grassy and floral scent.

Once steeped the tea is very light yellow in colour and has a sweet and slightly floral.

First steep
Flavour is very clean and light, gently floral and sweet.

Second steep
Still light and floral with a sweet and smooth pureness but also with a toasted hint. A little grassy also.

Third steep
Similar to the first steep in that it’s very light and refreshing. Still there is a pure floral flavour.

Overall it’s one of the nicest qualities that I have tried and it’s so very delicious and delicate.

I like white tea, but don’t always drink it because of the cost. However, I got a sample from Teavivre and decided to break it open. This tea is so pleasant. I’ve always thought of white tea as very light (almost watery), but maybe I just wasn’t using enough leaf. This tea is rich with so many different notes. I’m getting the melon and butter, as others have mentioned.

Very enjoyable today.

I have forgotten how much I love Silver Needle. The subtle floral notes, the juicy sweet finish, the hints of melon and cucumber, the fuzzy little leaves that I want to stuff my pillow with, etc, etc. Yep. I love this kind of tea very much. It’s like embracing your newly cleaned, warm, fuzzy blanket that you’ve had forever right after it comes out from the dryer. Best thing in the world. Pure contemplative comfort.

The flavours are gentle but they are also rich and intoxicating for what they are; this tea actually has a tendency to make my head spin if I drink too much of it. Big overload on crisp, floral sweetness and I’ve only had a few sips. This is the good stuff and reminds me why I love tea so much.

Second steep has sweet citrus notes and it’s creamy, like lemon and butter with a touch of honey.

Third steep tastes like first steep except it’s peppery!

I am loving this Silver Needle. It is so fresh and fragrant, and I love the delicate complexity. Layers of flavor: floral, hay, grass, fruit, and a hint of sweetness. So wonderful, I find myself just wanting to sit and contemplate the joy it brings me to sip it.

This is why I love tea.

Very delicate, fresh, peachy pear, sweet, honey and floral notes! Organic Silver Needle also made a really nice cold steep!

Full review on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/organic-silver-needle-white-tea-from-teavivre-tea-review/
features Owly wearing his owl scouts sash.

so I’m pretty new to white tea but I’m warming up to it quickly. As others have commented this is a beautiful long sage green leaf with lots of white fuzz.

I steeped this in approx 170 – 180 F water for about 2 minutes.

I’m just sitting here trying to figure out what to say about it. I was thinking vaguely spearmint but somehow that isn’t quite right. It seems lightly floral with a touch of lilac, with a lingering bit of fruit like lychee in the finish. I don’t think I’m enough of a white tea expert to know if this is better or worse than other white needles but I am enjoying it a lot. It has a very smooth feel in your mouth.

This stuff was amazing. my first Silver needle definitely didn’t disappoint. I don’t really know how to describe the taste but it was delicious.

Mmm… this is exquisite tea. I’ve only ever drank the Teavana Silver Needle and was waiting anxiously for Teavivre one to arrive to finally be able to compare.

The first difference that struck me was that Teavana Silver Needle buds are of yellow-green color while Teavivre Silver Needle is more green in color. It also smells more vegetal and steeps more vegetal.

I used one full tablespoon of buds for 8 ounces of water and steeped it for 5 min. The result was pale yellow color liquid with fragrant, floral scent.

This wonderful tea is slightly sweet, vegetal, floral and full of delightful honey notes. Oh, how much I love the honey notes in Silver Needle. Comparing it to Teavana’s, it has more flavour. Putting it simply… it’s better.

It’s delicious… just so incredibly delicious. A+ Teavivre.

I have lots of ironing and house straightening to do today, spent yesterday morning with son getting his wisdom tooth out, and really wanted today to be extra relaxing and special even with so much holiday clean up to do. I knew I wanted a green or white tea so I could make the big tetsubin full and keep it over a warmer and keep refilling all day. I don’t have time sit and coddle a oolong, which I love to do. Maybe later…

As I pawed through my tea box, I discovered a sample I had not opened yet. Gads, how could this be?

This is a great fit for what I wanted today. It is a very subtle tea and I must say I think Tabby’s description was spot on. After the sip, there is a taste like fine frost. Anyone here remember freezers that got a layer of fine ice crystals? And everyone told the kids we were going to die of food poisoning or something if we kept eating it? It is also a taste I get from ice when I get severely anemic, but that is the only time I taste it, and crave ice. I bought an ice shaver years ago because I got so addicted to the taste of ice before we found out what the problem was. Take iron, and alas, ice is just ice.

Well, here is something that is warm and ever so slightly nutty on the way down, and afterwards fills your head with the freshness of frost melting off of the most pristine spring grass you could imagine.

Thank you, Teavivre and Angel Chen for the opportunity to try this!